FAQ

Entry is simple. Submission is online and is completed in 4 simple steps:

Register - or login if you are already a registrant.

Fill in the simple online submission form--remember you can select multiple categories for each entry.

Upload JPEG/PNG and PDF files, as needed

Add to Cart. Then, add more categories or checkout and pay.

Entries may be submitted in more than one category at an additional cost. No additional materials are needed for most categories. In a few, such as campaigns that include a plan or report, submit the materials you presented to your client. If one is not available, offer a brief summary of objectives, challenges and solutions.

Submissions:

Entries must be produced within the last five calendar years up through the final deadline.

Entries may not have been previously entered in the Muse Awards competition.

All entries must be submitted for judging exactly as published, aired or implemented and may not be modified for the competition. The Muse Creative Awards may request proof of initial production, publication and/or air date.

A written translation or adaptation must accompany non-English entries.

Some entries may qualify for multiple categories; if so, treat each entry as a separate submission.

The awards reserves the right to re-categorize incorrectly classified entries.

Judges reserve the right to withhold an award in a category if submissions do not meet their expectations.

Submission Format

How long should my entry brief be?

Although there is no minimum or maximum number of words, we recommend you keep your synopsis to approximately 350 words. We suggest you utilize this section of your entry to elaborate on the piece as well as the creativity and originality of your idea.

First, check that the image does not exceed the maximum size of 4MB and 1,000 px wide, that it is the right format (JPG or PNG) and that the file name contains only letters or numbers. Once you've checked that these things are in order, try to upload your images again. If you're still having trouble after this, contact our support staff at: info@museaward.com.

Audio/Video: Upload video/audio to Vimeo/YouTube/Youku. Paste the URL link into the URL field.

Entries with audio/video must be submitted with a direct URL that will take judges directly to the work. If password protected you must provide a username and password for judging purposes. Web Videos entered are judged solely on the content provided. Upload a PDF brief if explanation is required before evaluation of the work.

Judging is blind. DO NOT identify your company's name on any host page.

Mobile Sites/Apps:

Mobile entries must be submitted with a direct URL and accessible by a mobile phone, PDA or other mobile device as they will be evaluated on such devices. If password protected, you must provide a username and password for judging purposes. Mobile Websites are judged solely on the content provided. Additional supporting documents are not permitted. For Mobile Apps, submit a URL that leads to a demonstration of the application features and components, or a direct link for downloading.

Social Media Content

Social media entries must be submitted on a single HTML page containing the creative work for that entry only. If password protected, you must provide a username and password for our judges. For social media entries containing many components, provide a direct link to one page that includes all elements to be evaluated.

Web Marketing Campaigns

Web Marketing entries must be submitted on a single HTML page containing the creative work for that entry only. If password protected, you must provide a username and password for our judges. If entering more than one marketing piece, include a direct link to the work to ensure that each piece categories specified. Enter a brief if necessary.

Note: Campaign entries must be submitted either on a single HTML page containing the creative elements of the campaign, or through links to each element. You may also choose to offer background information, statistics and other details provided they fit on one HTML page.

Video/Non-broadcast/Film Entry:

Due to bandwidth limits, these entries must be hosted on either YouTube, Vimeo or a similar site. Judging is blind. DO NOT identify your company's name on any host page.

Interactive Multimedia:

Please provide the direct URL link and any required username or password.

DO NOT identify the your company name on any host page.

Who Is Eligible? (Solo and/or Team)

Advertising Agencies

AR/VR Professionals

Business Owner

Creative Boutiques

Design firms

Freelance Professionals

Game Designers / Developers

Graphic Designers

In-house Marketing

Interactive Agencies

Marketing Agencies

Mobile App Designers / Developers

Photographers

Production Films

Programmers

Public Relation Films

Social Media Specialists

Students

Web Designers / Developers

Videographers

How We Choose Muse Awards Winners

Entries are judged at random with comparison to other entries in a category. Work is evaluated on criteria determined by the job's requirements (see Judging Criteria). Freelancers are not compared to design firms in the same category.

To ensure high standards of high quality, a category may have multiple winners or no winners. Work is critiqued rated by consensus, with the panel-faq of judges determining a rating on a scale of 100 points. Winners with a score between 85 and 100 points are Platinum Winners. Entries with a score between 75 and 84 points are Gold Winners. Entries with a score between 65 and 74 points are Silver Winners. Entries with a score between 50 and 64 points are Quest Winners. Entries with a score between 40 and 49 points receive honorable mention.

Winners are informed within 14 days after the final entry period & judging process concludes. All registered participants can then login to see the winning works.

Entry Fees & Deadlines

Regular Entry is $100 for each work or $160 for each campaign or plan. If a work is submitted in more than one category, an additional entry fee for each category is required. Each entrant is charged a $30 administration fee. Once submitted, entry fees are not refundable.

Levels of Winning and Number of Winning Entries

What are the levels of winning and how many awards are given in the Muse Creative Awards competition?

There are five levels of achievement in the competition:

Platinum Muse (85-100)

Gold Muse (75-84)

Silver Muse (65-74)

Rose Gold Muse (50-64)

Honorable Mention (40-49)

All Platinum, Gold, Silver and Rose Gold winners will receive:

One professionally designed certificate commemorating the winning entry with entry title, entering company/student & school and category printed. Decal will be affixed indicating the level of win.

The number of awards presented by Muse Creative Awards is determined by the number of submissions in a given category, the scoring range and the number of tie scores.

Judging Criteria

Judging is blind. All entrant information is removed from entries to prevent bias/conflict of interest. Judges score on a scale of 1-100, based on the work's demonstrated creativity, concept & writing, integration, quality of craft, visual design, execution and overall experience.

Student entries are evaluated separately from professional entries and are scored in the same manner. Student winners are distinguished by the same award levels as professional entries.

Platinum Muse (85-100)

Gold Muse (75-84)

Silver Muse (65-74)

Rose Gold Muse (50-64)

Honorable Mention (40-49)

Entries receiving an average score under 40 do not receive an award

Can I send a sample of my product to the competition? If so, will it be returned to me and do I need to send a return-handling fee?

It is not required that you send actual sample of your product to the competition. Images and a description of the product are sufficient.

Trophy/Statuette & Certificate Shipping Time

Winner awards are custom-made. Statuettes and certificates ship directly from the manufacturer. Please allow 8-12 weeks for statuettes, 5-8 weeks for certificates. Shipping time may be longer during off-season. Statuettes may be ordered from our online store once winners are announced.

The Juries

The prestige of the Muse Awards competition relies in large part on the high caliber of the juries that convene each year to review submissions. The International Awards Associates Inc (IAA) seeks to assemble juries that represent the breadth of the profession, including private, public, institutional, and academic practice, and exemplify diversity in professional experience, geography, gender, and ethnicity.

The Muse Creative Awards Sponsors?

This awards program is conducted by International Awards Associates (IAA), Inc. The IAA is not tied to any advertiser, magazine, trade association, ad club or other outside influence.

The IAA is an independent, international organization focused on creating a community of marketing creativity, effectiveness and excellence. It conducts impartial, 'blind' judged competitions and, once completed, it recognizes, celebrates and promotes creative, effective and marketing excellence in those winning companies and individuals.

Its judging process is designed to be impartial and free from outside influences by withholding both the names of the judges on its panel-faqs as well as the contestant's names throughout the entire evaluation process. Both judge and contestant names are withheld until after award winning entries are selected. This anonymity shelters all involved from any vested interest which may attempt to influence the judges' opinions or the judging process.

What do the winners receive?

Each year, the Muse Awards honor the best in creativity from around the globe, while you give us a glimpse into the future of the profession. Winners receive:

One professionally designed certificate commemorating the winning entry, which includes entry title, entering company/winners' name and category. Decal will be affixed indicating the level of win.

Top tier (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Rose Gold) winners will be featured on Muse Creative Awards site's Gallery, where professionals can view your work.

A press release sent to major industry outlets, celebrating your win.

Professionally designed icons for use on websites, in email signatures, etc.

Professionally designed logos for use on websites, in email signatures, etc.

Platinum, Gold & Silver winners will get social media mention by Muse Awards on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+.

Why must winners' trophies be purchased?

The Muse Creative Awards mission is to recognize outstanding creativity in firms that otherwise are overshadowed by large firms' budgets, which dominate most other marketing communications competitions. We also want to extend and encourage students to enter and compete on their own level, gaining valuable experience before entering the profession of digital media.

The Muse Creative Awards maintains affordable entry fees (the lowest in the marketing awards industry) to allow start-ups, one-person firms and young people the opportunity to enter, as well as firms from countries where the exchange rate or the economic conditions would otherwise make entering impossible.

If an entrant is recognized as a winner, there is no additional fee. Many other awards programs charge an acceptance fee. With the Muse Creative Award's, once you've won, you've won; there is no additional fee.

If a winner decides they want a statuette, the Muse Creative Awards makes them available for purchase and orders them from its manufacturer. This offering process allows the Awards to maintain low entry fees and prevent non-winners' subsidy of winners.

Some winners choose not to receive a physical memento. Their priority is the prestige of recognition and the exposure the comes with it. Others choose to order statuettes and/or certificates for individuals on their creative team as well as their client. It's all up to the winners!

Terms and Conditions

Muse Awards assumes all entries are original and the entrant either owns the submission or has permission from a client or other appropriate party to enter the work, with all rights granted therein. In the event that an entrant without such rights submits an entry, the entrant will not be eligible for the competition. Muse Awards is not liable for any copyright infringement on the part of the entrant. Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of Muse Awards to use it for exhibition and publication in any medium, however work entered into the competition can remain private upon written request from the entrant.

Timely submission of an entry meeting the eligibility requirements and payment of the entry fee as stated herein ensures that an entrant's work will be reviewed and considered for recognition. No other representation or warranty is made by Muse Awards concerning entries and all implied warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed.

If an entrant's submission receives an award, the manner and details of announcing such nomination and award is strictly within the discretion of Muse Awards. Entrant understands that all awards may not be given or publicized in the same manner or form.